Diagnosis Of Metastatic Breast Cancer Research Articles

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Hospitalization Outcomes by Palliative Care Utilization and Trends Among Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer in the United States.

We examined the trends in palliative care utilization, racial/ethnic disparities in hospitalization outcomes among adult women with a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), and effect modification by palliative care utilization. Retrospective cohort analyses were conducted using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality sponsored Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-National Inpatient Sample database from 2016 to 2020. Regression analyses were used to evaluate palliative care trends, and the association between race/ethnicity and in-hospital mortality, length of stay, total hospital charges, and discharge disposition. Stratified analyses were conducted by palliative care use. Palliative care consultations in the study population increased from 16.4% in 2016 to 20.3% in 2020. Black (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.25 [95% CI, 1.16 to 1.34]) and Hispanic (AOR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.01 to 1.23]) female patients with MBC had higher in-hospital mortality compared with the White patients. Among those who received palliative care, Blacks had similar odds (AOR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.97 to 1.20]) of in-hospital mortality when compared with Whites. Black women were more likely to have longer hospital stays relative to White women. Although Black women had similar odds (AOR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.92 to 1.04]) of discharge to a short-term/skilled nursing facility versus routine discharge compared with White women, Blacks who received palliative care had 19% (95% CI, 0.70 to 0.95) lower odds of discharge to a facility. Our findings emphasize the importance of palliative care use among patients with MBC and highlight the need to raise awareness of its benefits, especially in minority populations. Further studies are needed to explore ways to narrow the gap in existing disparities and to test these interventions on care metrics and patient outcomes.

S2896 An Atypical Colon Polyp Leading to Diagnosis of Metastatic Breast Cancer

S2896 An Atypical Colon Polyp Leading to Diagnosis of Metastatic Breast Cancer

Differentiation of Cutaneous Metastatic Breast Cancer from Cutaneous Adnexal Tumors Using Wnt9b Polyclonal Antibody Stain

Objective: The histologic diagnosis of cutaneous metastatic breast cancer can be challenging as the differentials can include primary cutaneous glandular neoplasms and metastases from other glandular neoplasms which present very similar on H&E. Many immunohistological markers including GATA3 and CK7 have been employed to screen for primary or metastatic breast cancer cells and because of this, we wanted to develop a stain capable of differentiating these diagnoses quickly and accurately. Methods: We utilized 61 archived dermatopathology laboratory specimens of various benign and malignant cutaneous adnexal and breast tissues for analysis with a polyclonal Wnt9b antibody stain. Results: The average staining in benign categories (cutaneous adnexal and benign breast tissue) as well as metastases from non-breast carcinomas was negative. Among the malignant cutaneous adnexal and metastatic breast tissues, a significant difference was observed in staining as adnexal carcinomas were weakly positive (0.53+) and primarily seen in the outer layer of glandular structures, while metastatic breast tissues were strongly positive (3.63+) (P<0.01). The specificity in both adnexal and metastatic breast tissues was 100% while the sensitivity for adnexal carcinomas was 37% and metastatic breast was 94%. A larger sample size could greatly improve these values. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that Wnt9b has specific staining for cutaneous metastatic breast cell nuclei and could be utilized as a diagnostic to differentiate from cutaneous adnexal tumors in routine dermatopathological applications. Keywords: Metastatic Breast Carcinomas; Cutaneous Adnexal Tumor; Staining; Polyclonal Antibody; Histological Markers

Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with metastatic breast cancer and leptomeningeal disease: a single center retrospective cohort study

PurposeLeptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a devastating complication of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). It is critical to better understand the risk factors, natural history, and treatment outcomes, including patients in a modern cohort.MethodsIn this single center retrospective cohort study, we identified patients with MBC and LMD who received care from 2000 to 2024 and abstracted key clinical, treatment, and survival data.ResultsWe identified 111 patients with MBC and LMD, including patients with the following subtypes: HR+/HER2− (n = 53, 47.7%), HER2+ (n = 30, 27.0%), and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC; n = 28, 25.2%). Median time from the diagnosis of MBC to LMD was 16.4 months (range 0–101.3 months). After the diagnosis of LMD, most patients received systemic therapy (n = 66, 59.5%) and/or central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy (n = 94, 84.7%) including intrathecal therapy (n = 42, 37.8%) and/or CNS-directed radiation therapy (n = 70, 63.1%). In all patients, median overall survival (OS) from the diagnosis of LMD to death was 4.1 months (range 0.1–78.1 months) and varied by subtype, with HR+/HER2− or HER2+ MBC patients living longer than those with TNBC (4.2 and 6.8 months respectively vs. 2.0 months, p < 0.01, HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.36–3.39). Patients who received CNS-directed therapy lived longer than those who did not (4.2 vs. 1.3, p = 0.02 HR 0.54, 0.32–0.91). Patients diagnosed with LMD from 2015 to 2024 lived longer than those diagnosed from 2000 to 2014 (6.4 vs. 2.9 months, p = 0.04, HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.46–0.99). On multivariable analysis, having TNBC was associated with shorter OS from time of LMD to death (p = 0.004, HR 2.03, 95% CI 1.25–3.30).ConclusionThis is one of the largest case series of patients with MBC and LMD. Patients diagnosed with LMD from 2015 to 2024 lived longer than those diagnosed from 2000 to 2014, although median OS was short overall. Patients with TNBC and LMD had particularly short OS. Novel therapeutic strategies for LMD remain an area of unmet clinical need.

Social Determinants of Health and Other Predictors in Initiation of Treatment with CDK4/6 Inhibitors for HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer.

In hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (MBC), cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6is) have replaced endocrine therapy alone as the standard of care; however, several barriers to treatment initiation still exist. We assessed social determinants of health (SDOH) and other factors associated with the initiation of CDK4/6i for HR+/HER2- MBC in the Medicare population. Using a retrospective cohort design, patients aged ≥65 years and diagnosed during 2015-2017 were selected from the SEER-Medicare database. Time from MBC diagnosis to first CDK4/6i initiation was the study outcome. The effect of SDOH measures and other predictors on the outcome was assessed using the multivariable Fine and Gray hazard modeling. Of 752 eligible women, 352 (46.8%) initiated CDK4/6i after MBC diagnosis (median time to initiation: 27.9 months). In adjusted analysis, SDOH factors significantly associated with CDK4/6i initiation included high versus low median household income (HHI) (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.03-2.81) and the percentage of population with high versus low Medicare-only coverage (HR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.04-2.27). In summary, older Medicare patients with HR+/HER2- MBC residing in areas with high median HHI and a high proportion of Medicare-only coverage had higher rates of initiating CDK4/6i, suggesting inequitable access to these novel, effective treatments and a need for policy intervention.

Effect of the timing of recurrence on survival among patients with breast cancer with brain metastasis.

e14005 Background: Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) and brain metastasis (BM) have poor prognosis. There is a lack of data on the effects of timing of MBC diagnosis [de novo (d) vs recurred (r) MBC] and BM diagnosis [dBM vs later onset (lo) BM] on overall survival (OS). We conducted a natural history-type study to investigate these effects among MBC BM patients. Methods: The data for this retrospective single institute study was extracted from a database of MBC BM patients diagnosed with BM from Jan 2010 to June 2021. Definitions: dMBC= MBC at initial diagnosis (Dx); rMBC= MBC with prior history of early stage BC; dBM= BM diagnosed&lt; 6 weeks (wk) from MBC Dx; loBM= BM diagnosed ≥ 6 wk from MBC Dx. The following endpoints were compared between dMBC vs rMBC: 1. interval from MBC to BM Dx (Interval MBC-BM) 2. OS from MBC Dx 3. OS from BM Dx. OS from BM Dx was compared between dBM vs loBM. Median endpoints were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and reported with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Cohorts were compared using the Logrank test and adjusted for other variables using Cox models. Results: Interval MBC-BM, OS from MBC Dx, and BM Dx were not statistically different between dMBC and rMBC groups in unadjusted analyses (See Table) and when adjusted in multivariate analyses. Median OS from BM Dx was significantly longer in dBM group vs loBM group (See Table). In multivariate model adjusting for variables at BM Dx (age, race, performance status, visceral disease, number of BM &gt;1cm, leptomeningeal disease, BC receptor types), risk of death was higher in loBM group vs dBM group (Hazard Ratio, HR = 0.499; p=0.006). In dMBC group, 28.1% had dBM compared to 45.6% in the rMBC (p=0.083, Chi-square test). Subset analyses: Among rMBC group, median OS from BM Dx with dBM (n=42, OS=44.3 months (m), 95% CI 19.0-Not evaluable (NE)) was significantly longer compared to loBM (n=50, OS=13.7m (6.6-21.4)), p=0.002 (LogRank Test); but among dMBC group, there was no significant difference in OS from BM Dx with dBM (n=9, OS=32.4m (12.9-122.5)) vs. with loBM (n=23, OS= 17.8m (6.6-NE)), p=0.885. Conclusions: In a retrospective database of patients with BM from BC, time from MBC to BM diagnosis, OS from MBC diagnosis, and OS from BM diagnosis did not differ between those with recurrent vs de novo MBC. Interestingly, in unadjusted and adjusted analyses, OS from BM diagnosis was longer for those with de novo BM diagnosed at/around MBC diagnosis than those whose BM was later in onset. Earlier-onset BM in the MBC disease course could be more sensitive to cancer-directed therapies. Studies are needed to test this hypothesis.[Table: see text]

Effect of timing of recurrence on outcomes in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors.

e13067 Background: CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDKi) + endocrine therapy (ET) comprise the standard 1st line treatment for ER+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, there is a gap in understanding how timing of MBC recurrence affects clinical outcomes on CDKi. We conducted a study to compare clinical outcomes of MBC patients on CDKi based on timing of MBC recurrence. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled ER+ HER2- MBC patients diagnosed from Jan 2015 to Jan 2023, who received CDKi + ET as 1st line treatment for MBC. Patients were categorized as de novo MBC (dMBC), if they had 1. Stage 4 disease at initial diagnosis or 2. MBC diagnosed &lt; 6 months of the primary breast cancer (PBC) diagnosis and before starting any systemic treatment for PBC. Patients with distant recurrence occurring &lt; 5 years, 5-10 years, and &gt;10 years from PBC were categorized as early, intermediate, and late MBCs (eMBC, iMBC, laMBC). Endpoints were Progression-Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS) from MBC diagnosis. Baseline variables were compared using t-tests (continuous) and Chi-square tests (categorical). Endpoint analyses were conducted using Kaplan-Meier method and compared using Log rank test. Multivariate analyses were performed using Cox models. Results: Out of 280 patients enrolled, 67 were dMBC, 75 eMBC, 56 iMBC, and 82 laMBC. The laMBC group had a higher mean age (years) compared to other groups (71 vs. 62 in dMBC+ eMBC + iMBC, p&lt;0.001). 64.5% of laMBC had visceral disease compared to 50.5% of dMBC + eMBC + iMBC (p=0.031). 65.7% of dMBC patients were treated with palbociclib compared to 80.8% of eMBC + iMBC + laMBC (p=0.010). Higher % of eMBC were PR- vs other cohorts (41.3 vs 23.9 dMBC + iMBC + laMBC, p&lt;0.001). Among the 3 non dMBC groups, prior ET sensitivity (no recurrence for 2 years on adjuvant ET) was lower in eMBC (45.3%) compared to iMBC + laMBC (81.9%, p&lt;0.001). 61.3% of eMBC patients were on adjuvant ET at recurrence compared to 17.4% of iMBC + laMBC (p&lt;0.001). Other variables were similar. Table shows unadjusted endpoint analyses. In multivariate analyses, the risk of PFS events were not significantly different among cohorts (age&lt;=65, ECOG performance status (PS) &gt;=2 and PR- were independently associated with shorter PFS); risk of death was higher in eMBC vs laMBC (HR 1.73, p=0.047). Conclusions: In this retrospective study of ER+ HER2- MBC patients treated with 1st line CDKi + ET, timing of MBC recurrence was not associated with PFS differences after adjusting for other variables. However, patients with MBC recurring &lt; 5 years of PBC had the higher likelihood of death compared to those recurring &gt;10 years of PBC. [Table: see text]

A single center retrospective cohort study of patients with metastatic breast cancer and leptomeningeal disease: Updated survival data and subgroup analyses by breast cancer subtype.

1108 Background: Patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and leptomeningeal disease (LMD) have a poor prognosis with limited therapies. We previously reported data from our retrospective LMD registry; here we provide an update with additional pts and subgroup analyses highlighting differences in treatment and survival by breast cancer subtype. Methods: In this single center retrospective cohort study, we identified pts with MBC and LMD who received care from 2000-2024 and abstracted key clinical, treatment, and overall survival (OS) data. Results: We identified 111 pts with MBC and LMD, including pts with the following subtypes: HR+/HER2- (n=53, 47.7%), HER2+ (n=30, 27.0%), and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC; n=28, 25.2%). The majority of pts had concurrent brain metastasis (n=82, 73.9%). Median time from diagnosis of MBC to LMD was 16.4 months (mo) (range 0-101.3 mo). Pts received a median of 3 lines of therapy prior to the diagnosis of LMD (range 0-10) and 1 line after the diagnosis of LMD (range 0-4). Most pts received central nervous system-directed (CNS)-directed therapy (n=94, 84.7%), including intrathecal (IT) therapy (n=42, 37.8%) and/or CNS radiation (n=70, 63.1%). Median OS from the diagnosis of LMD to death was 4.1 mo (range 0.1-78.1 mo) and varied by subtype, with pts with HR+/HER2- or HER2+ MBC and LMD living longer than those with TNBC and LMD (4.2 and 6.8 mo respectively vs. 2.0 mo, p&lt;0.01, HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.36-3.39). There was no difference in OS by histology ductal vs. lobular or by presence or absence of concurrent parenchymal brain metastases. Pts who received IT therapy survived longer than those who did not (7.1 vs. 2.7 mo, p=0.01, HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.40-0.90). There was difference in OS by receipt of CNS-directed radiation therapy. Pts diagnosed with LMD from 2015-2024 lived longer than those diagnosed from 2000-2014 (6.4 vs. 2.9 mo, p=0.04, HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.46-0.99). On multivariable analysis, having TNBC was associated with shorter OS from time of LMD to death (p=0.004, HR 2.03, 95% CI 1.25-3.30). Conclusions: This study represents one of the largest case series of pts with MBC and LMD, including the most pts diagnosed after 2015 to our knowledge. Pts with lobular histology, HER2+ BC, TNBC, and those with de novo MBC were over-represented compared to the general MBC population. Pts with HR+/HER2- or HER2+ disease, LMD diagnosed after 2015, and those who received IT therapy survived longer than their respective cohorts. Novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for pts with MBC and LMD remains an area of unmet clinical need.

Association between socioeconomic factors and utilization of next-generation sequencing in metastatic breast cancer.

e13700 Background: Targeted therapies such as PI3K inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Their selective use is enabled by next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches, which help identify actionable tumor alterations. There may be socioeconomic disparities in NGS testing and NGS-guided treatment selection. This study aimed to investigate the role of socioeconomic status (SES) (race and area deprivation index [ADI]) among patients with MBC undergoing NGS. Methods: Our retrospective study included 418 adult patients (pts) with MBC treated at the Magee Women’s Cancer Center in Pittsburgh, PA between September 2016 and December 2022. Demographic information, including race and ADI, clinicopathologic information, and NGS results were collected. ADI based on zip code was derived utilizing Neighborhood Atlas. Scores range from 0-10 (higher score = higher deprivation), representing the census-based ranking of the ZIP code at the state level based on the composite of several factors, including income, education, employment, and housing quality. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared, and independent sample t tests were used. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to evaluate potential associations with receipt of NGS and NGS-directed therapy. Results: 89% of pts were non-Hispanic white (NHW); 11% were non-Hispanic black (NHB). A greater proportion of NHB pts were from higher ADI (6-10) neighborhoods (p=0.00001), suggesting lower SES. NHW pts were more likely to have hormone receptor (HR)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2- tumors compared with NHB pts (p=0.022). 219 (52.4%) total pts had NGS tumor testing performed: 53% of NHW and 47.8% of NHB pts (p=0.511). 55.1% (102/185) of pts living in higher SES neighborhoods (ADI 1-5) and 50.2% (117/233) living in lower SES neighborhoods (ADI 6-10) received NGS testing (p=0.317). Of the 219 pts who got NGS testing, 62.6% (137) had a clinically actionable alteration identified, and of those, 46% (63) received corresponding targeted therapy. Of the 63 pts who received NGS-guided therapy, 88.9% were NHW and 11.1% were NHB (p=0.849), and 50.8% were from neighborhoods with ADI 1-5 and 49.2% were from neighborhoods with ADI 6-10 (p=0.571). In multivariate analysis including race, ADI, insurance status, year of MBC diagnosis, and tumor subtype, only tumor subtype (non-HR+/HER2- tumors) was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of both receiving NGS testing (p=0.032) and receiving NGS-directed therapy (p=0.001). Conclusions: There was a higher numerical rate of NGS testing and NGS-guided therapy initiation in NHW pts and pts from lower ADI (1-5 vs. 6-10) neighborhoods, but this did not reach statistical significance. Overall, in this single institution cohort limited by small numbers, there were no differences in NGS tumor testing based on race and SES.

Characterizing "collateral damage" in men and women with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds in New York City.

Patients from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds may be particularly vulnerable to experiencing undue social and financial burdens ("collateral damage") from a metastatic breast cancer (mBC) diagnosis; however, these challenges have not been well explored in diverse populations. From May 2022 to May 2023, English- or Spanish-speaking adults with mBC treated at four New York-Presbyterian (NYP) sites were invited to complete a survey that assessed collateral damage, social determinants of health, physical and psychosocial well-being, and patient-provider communication. Fisher's exact and the Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum tests assessed differences by race and ethnicity. Of 87 respondents, 14% identified as Hispanic, 28% non-Hispanic Black (NHB), 41% non-Hispanic White (NHW), 7% Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), and 10% other/multiracial. While 100% of Hispanic, NHW, and AAPI participants reported stable housing, 29% of NHB participants were worried about losing housing (p = 0.002). Forty-two percent of Hispanic and 46% of NHB participants (vs. 8%, NHW and 0%, AAPI, p = 0.005) were food insecure; 18% of Hispanic and 17% of NHB adults indicated lack of reliable transportation in the last year (vs. 0%, NHW/AAPI, p = 0.033). Participants were generally satisfied with the quality of communication that they had with their healthcare providers and overall physical and mental well-being were modestly poorer relative to healthy population norms. In our study, NHB and Hispanic mBC patients reported higher levels of financial concern and were more likely to experience food and transportation insecurity compared to NHW patients. Systematically connecting patients with resources to address unmet needs should be prioritized to identify feasible approaches to support economically vulnerable patients following an mBC diagnosis.

Psychosocial and supportive care concerns of young women living with advanced breast cancer: baseline findings from a prospective virtual support intervention study.

Adolescent and young adults (AYAs) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) experience high physical and psychosocial burdens compounded by a disrupted life trajectory. We sought to determine the psychosocial and supportive care concerns of this population to better understand and address unmet needs. AYAs diagnosed with MBC (18-39years) participating in a prospective interventional study (Young, Empowered, and Strong) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute completed an electronic survey following enrollment. Measures evaluated sociodemographics, health behaviors, quality of life, and symptoms, among others. We used two-sided Fisher's exact tests to determine associations between concerns (e.g., cancer progression, side effects, lifestyle, finances, fertility) and demographic variables. Among 77 participants enrolled from 9/2020-12/2022, average age at MBC diagnosis and survey was 35.9 (range: 22-39) and 38.3years (range: 27-46), respectively. Most were non-Hispanic white (83.8%) and 40.3% reported their diagnosis caused some financial problems. Many were concerned about fertility (27.0%), long-term treatment side effects (67.6%), exercise (61.6%), and diet (54.1%). Select concerns varied significantly by age, race/ethnicity, and education. Younger women at survey reported greater concern about familial cancer risk (p = 0.028). Women from minority racial/ethnic groups more frequently reported issues talking about their cancer to family/friends (p = 0.040) while those with more education were more frequently concerned with long-term effects of cancer on their health (p = 0.021). Young women living with MBC frequently report psychosocial, health, and cancer management concerns. Tailoring supportive care and communications to address prevalent concerns including disease progression and treatment side effects may optimize wellbeing.

Iterative Development of an Interactive Website to Support Shared Decision-Making in Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Recent treatment advances have resulted in significantly increased survival times following metastatic breast cancer (MBC) diagnosis. Novel treatment approaches-and their related side effects-have changed the landscape of MBC treatment decision-making. We developed a prototype of an online educational tool to prepare patients with MBC for shared decision-making with their oncologists. We describe the five phases of tool development: (1) in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews and (2) feedback on storyboards of initial content with patients with MBC and oncology providers. This was followed by three phases of iterative feedback with patients in which they responded to (3) initial, non-navigable website content and (4) a beta version of the full website. In the final phase (5), patients newly diagnosed with MBC (N = 6) used the website prototype for 1week and completed surveys assessing acceptability, feasibility, treatment knowledge, preparation for decision-making, and self-efficacy for decision-making. Participants in Phase 1 characterized a cyclical process of MBC treatment decision-making and identified key information needs. Website content and structure was iteratively developed in Phases 2-4. Most participants in Phase 5 (n = 4) accessed the website 2-5 times. All participants who accessed the website at least once (n = 5) felt they learned new information from the website prototype and would recommend it to others newly-diagnosed with MBC. After using the website prototype, participants reported high preparation and self-efficacy for decision-making. This multiphase, iterative process resulted in a prototype intervention designed to support decision-making for MBC patients.

Abstract PO4-06-05: The prognostic impact of age at diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer according to estrogen receptor status: a single-center, retrospective study

Abstract Background: Young age is associated with poor prognosis and aggressive biology in early breast cancer, especially in luminal subtypes. But the prognostic impact of age in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is unclear. Also it is known that chemotherapy is more effective in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative tumors than in ER-positive tumors and young patients respond better to chemotherapy. The authors tried to evaluate the impact of age on disease outcome according to ER status. Methods: We collected individual patient data from January 2000 to December 2022 from the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. Total 419 ER-positive and 238 ER-negative patients who had been treated for MBC were included for analysis. We compared clinical characteristics and overall survival (OS) of patients among three age groups (&amp;lt; 35, 35 to 50 and &amp;gt;50 years) at MBC diagnosis in ER-positive and -negative tumors. Results: The proportion of patients aged &amp;lt; 35, 35-50 and &amp;gt; 50 years was 3.1%, 46.6% and 32.3% in ER-positive tumors, and 2.7%, 14.8% and 18.4% in ER-negative tumors. Although most characteristics of tumors according to age were comparable, bone metastasis was more common in patients aged 35-50 years than the other age groups in ER-positive (51.8% vs. 36.0% in &amp;gt;50 years, P=0.006) and time to first metastasis was shorter in younger patients in ER-negative tumors (72.2% between 6 and 24 months vs. 31.1% in patients &amp;gt;50 years, P=0.003). The median follow-up time was 65 months. Overall survival rate was not different according to age in ER-positive tumors (P=0.909). On the other hands, younger patients had a higher risk of death in ER-negative tumors (P=0.015). In multivariate analysis, young age at MBC diagnosis (&amp;lt; 35years) with short time to metastasis (6 to 24 months), visceral metastasis, triple negative breast cancer was correlated with poor overall survival in ER-negative tumors (P=0.014, HR 1.77). Conclusions: Young age at MBC diagnosis was associated with a higher risk of death in ER-negative tumors, not in ER-positive tumors. These observations may suggest that physicians should consider the impact of age at diagnosis of metastasis and time course of disease in evaluating survival potential and determining a treatment strategy in metastatic breast cancers. Citation Format: Joohyun Woo, Ahrong Ham, Sewon Lee, Ji Eun Lee, Soo Ji Hong, Haena Lee, Sungchan Gwark, Jun Woo Lee, Hyun Goo Kim, Jungmin Jo, Woosung Lim, Byung-In Moon, Sei Hyun Ahn, Hye Ah Lee, Kyoung Eun Lee. The prognostic impact of age at diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer according to estrogen receptor status: a single-center, retrospective study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-06-05.

Abstract PO1-16-12: The McPeak-Sirois Group Breast Metastases Registry

Abstract Background: In 2020, the McPeak-Sirois Group (MPSG), a Quebec-based breast cancer trials consortium, launched a feasibility pilot project to register prospectively cases of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This Breast Metastases Registry (BMR) had the following objectives: a) to measure real-world progression-free and overall survival; b) to capture real-world evidence in efficacy of novel therapeutic approaches and c) to facilitate the development of clinical research projects in MBC. Methods: The pilot phase was initiated in three major academic hospitals with the intention of testing the feasibility of building a BMR and to assess barriers before extension to other hospitals in the province of Quebec. Funding was obtained through non-profit organizations and the pharmaceutical industry. The project was approved by a research ethics board and informed consent was obtained from each patient. The main inclusion criteria was a MBC diagnosis at the time of enrolment. Metastatic diseases were considered de novo if the metastatic condition was detected at the same time of the primary disease diagnosis or within the following 4 months. The information in the BMR relates to participants’ health status, including but not limited to hospitalizations, diagnoses, medications, medical procedures and imaging, pathology, genetic and laboratory results. In addition to the prospective data, the registry also captures information retrospective to the date of enrollment. Results: Between July 30, 2021 and April 22, 2023, a total of 427 patients were approached by a research nurse and 423 patients enrolled and 4 refused (99.2% participation rate). Approximately one third of the cohort was diagnosed between 2021-2023 (30.3%) while 69.7% were in 2002-2020 timeframe. The majority was either HR+/HER2- (55.3%) or HER2+ (26.9%). The median age at the time of MBC diagnosis was 57 years (Q1-Q3 range: 47-67 years). We observed that 57.9% of patients had a relapsed MBC while de novo MBC comprised 42.1% of the cohort with the highest percentage in the HER2+ group (59.6%). The median time between primary cancer and metastatic disease in those with relapsed MBC is shorter in triple negative breast cancer (28.9 months) compared to 71.4 months in HR+ disease. Among all lines of treatment for metastatic disease, independently of age at time of MBC diagnosis, 21% of patients participated in a clinical trial. Discussion: The pilot project demonstrated the acceptability and feasibility of building a MBC provincial registry as illustrated by the high participation rate (more than 99%). The next step is to expand the registry to other hospital sites in Quebec, however, the main difficulty is having the necessary manpower (oncology registrars) to ensure data entry. Over one third of the MBC patients presented as de novo disease (and more than half of these with HER2+ disease). This proportion of de novo MBC is unusually high and is likely due to a recruitment bias during the pilot phase as data entry was prioritised for de novo diagnoses over MBC at time of recurrence and patients were recruited at any time in their MBC trajectory and not only at the time of their MBC diagnosis. Clinical trial participation was higher in our cohort compared to the usually reported 5% participation rate. This may be due to recruitment bias but needs to be evaluated further. Conclusion: We have found that recruiting patients in a metastatic cancer registry and collecting their real-world data is not only feasible but well received by patients. The limiting factor for expansion to other hospitals is lack of oncology registrars. At maturity, the BMR will be a unique and powerful resource for breast cancer research and will allow researchers and their collaborators to unite their efforts to better understand how stage IV breast cancer is treated and how management of the disease can be improved. The BMR could also have the potential to improve participation in clinical trials and to stimulate clinical research. Citation Format: Julie Lemieux, Danielle Charpentier, Dominique Johnson, Nathalie Bolduc, Caty Blanchette, Claude Nadon, Sarkis Meterissian. The McPeak-Sirois Group Breast Metastases Registry [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-16-12.

Abstract PO2-05-14: Prognosis and clinicopathological characteristics of HER2-negative metastatic breast cancers with low expression of hormone receptors: real world evidence from the French ESME cohort

Abstract Background: HER2-negative breast cancers expressing low (1-9 %) immunohistochemistry levels of hormone receptors (HR, estrogen and progesterone receptors), remain an uncertain category, being considered either as triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) or HR-positive (HR+) tumors across guidelines or approvals. The issues regarding this clinical subgroup are both prognostic, with the need of a better definition of their clinical outcome, as well as predictive. Methods: The ESME database is a French National cohort of all consecutive patients who initiated a first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) from 2008 on, in one of the 18 French Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Patients with HER2-negative (0 to 2+, ISH negative) MBC and known estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) expression levels were selected. Primary objective was to evaluate crude overall survival (OS) in HER2-/HR-low (ER and PR 0-9 and not TNBC) MBC pts compared with those with TNBC and HR+ disease defined by ER and PR &amp;lt; 1%, and ER ± PR ≥ 10%, respectively. In these 3 populations, predefined secondary objectives were to evaluate PFS under first line chemotherapy (CT), to describe clinical characteristics and the distribution of genetic abnormalities identified at the time of MBC diagnosis. Results: Out of 30,459 patients in the ESME database initiating their MBC treatment between 01/2008 and 01/2021, 19109 patients (2113 TNBC; 228 HR-low; 16768 HR+) were eligible for this analysis. Median follow-up was 58.0 months (95%CI [56.6; 59.0]). Median OS were 15.7 months [15.0-16.8], 19.1 months [15.5-22.4] and 44.6 months [43.8-45.5] in the TNBC, HR-low and HR+ subgroups, respectively. The multivariable analysis adjusted on age at MBC diagnosis, pathological grade and subtype, metastatic-free interval, number and sites of metastases and HER2 status (0 vs. 1-2+), identified no significant OS difference between HR-low and TNBC subgroups (HR=0.95, 95%CI 0.79-1.14), while HR+ patients had a better OS than TNBC patients (reference) (HR=0.50, 95%CI 0.47-0.53). Of these 19109 pts, 8910 received first-line CT regimen (1960 TNBC; 195 HR-low; 6755 HR+): taxanes-based: 66.7%, anthracyclines-based: 32.9%, capecitabine: 18%. Median PFS under first line CT were 5.3 (5.1-5.6), 5.1 (4.1-6.2) and 10.2 months (9.9-10.6) for TNBC, HR-low and HR+ subgroups, respectively. In the multivariable analysis adjusted on the same variables, the HR-low subgroup had a statistically poorer PFS compared to TNBC (HR=1.24, 95% CI 1.04-1.49). On the other hand, the HR+ subgroup had a better PFS than the TNBC (HR=0.74, 95%CI [0.70; 0.78]). Baseline germline BRCA1 mutations (at MBC diagnosis) were present in 4.5% of the TNBC cases, 2.6% of the HR-low cases, and 0.4% of the HR+ cases. The distribution of germline BRCA2 mutations was more homogeneous between the three groups (0.9% of TNBC cases, 1.3% of HR-low cases and 1.1 % of HR+ cases). Conclusions: In this large cohort, patients with HER2-negative, HR-low MBC seem to share similar general prognosis, oncogenetic features and PFS under standard chemotherapy treatment with TNBC patients. Citation Format: Marie Alexandre, Ludovic Gauthier, Audrey Mailliez, Thibault DE LA MOTTE ROUGE, Thomas Bachelot, Monica Arnedos, Florence Dalenc, Etienne Brain, Jean-Marc Ferrero, Vincent Massard, Isabelle Desmoulins, Marie-Ange Mouret-Reynier, Christelle Levy, Anthony Gonçalves, Marianne Leheurteur, Thierry Petit, Jean-Sébastien Frenel, Lise Bosquet, Suzette Delaloge, William Jacot. Prognosis and clinicopathological characteristics of HER2-negative metastatic breast cancers with low expression of hormone receptors: real world evidence from the French ESME cohort [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-05-14.

Abstract PO2-10-07: Patterns of presentation, treatment and survival for older patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC): results from a large prospective registry

Abstract Background: The median age of breast cancer diagnosis in the U.S. is 62 years; however, older pts with breast cancer are consistently underrepresented in clinical research. In population-based studies, older pts, particularly those aged 70+, do worse than their younger counterparts at every stage of disease, including stage IV. However, our understanding of patterns of recurrence, treatment patterns, and outcomes for older pts with MBC is limited by a lack of available data. Methods: We identified pts age &amp;gt;60 years seen at least once at a single, NCI-designated cancer center for a diagnosis of MBC between 1999-2022 with 1+ years of follow-up from the time of their metastatic diagnosis. We categorized pts into 5-year age groups (60-65; 66-70; 71-75; 76-80; &amp;gt;80) and two groups of 60-70 and &amp;gt;70. Clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment patterns, reason for treatment discontinuation, and the proportion enrolling on clinical trials were compared by tumor subtype and age group using Chi-Square testing. Median overall survival using Kaplan-Meier method was calculated from the date of initial MBC diagnosis to date of death or last follow-up, examined by tumor subtype and age. Results: The final analytic cohort included 1,115 patients diagnosed with MBC with median follow-up of 2.9 years (1.0-18.5). Median age at MBC diagnosis was 66.3 years (60.0-95.4) and 10% were non-White; disease subtype distribution was the following: 70.7% HR+HER2-, 11.9% HER2+, 17.4% TN. Overall, 22.2 presented with de novo MBC. Presentation of MBC did not vary by ages 60-70 vs. 70+, with no differences in disease characteristics such as grade and disease sites at MBC diagnosis (except for bone). However, the proportion of pts with HR+HER2- disease increased with age, from 69% of MBC in ages 60-70 and 76% in ages &amp;gt;70 (p=.02). In pts with this subtype receiving first-line (1L) therapy (n=783), use of endocrine therapy as 1L (with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor) increased by age (77.8% in ages 60-65 v. 94.7% in ages &amp;gt;80); use of 1L chemotherapy also varied by age (22.2% in ages 60-65 v. 5.3% in &amp;gt;80). Among pts with HER2+ BC, 89% received a trastuzumab-containing regimen in the 1L setting; in pts with TN MBC, 94% received at least 1L line of chemotherapy. Overall, most pts discontinued 1L therapy for progression, not toxicity, and there was no variation in rates of discontinuation due to toxicity by age with 10.4% noted in both age groups, 60-70 and &amp;gt;70. The proportion of patients receiving 3+ lines of chemotherapy across disease subtype decreased with increasing age (e.g., 54% in ages 60-65 v. 25% in ages &amp;gt;80 among HR+HER2-; 69% in ages 60-65 and 33% in ages &amp;gt;80 among TN MBC). Overall, enrollment on a clinical trial in the MBC setting steadily decreased with older age from 40% in ages 60-65 to 13% in ages &amp;gt;80 (p=.0004). Overall median overall survival differed with increasing age from 4.4 yrs in ages 60-65 to 2.7 yrs in ages &amp;gt;80 (p&amp;lt; 0.005). In descriptive analyses, the proportion of pts alive at 2 yrs was variable. For those ages 60-65, 37.8%, 17.1%, and 42.9% of pts with HR+HER2, TN, and HR-HER2+, respectively were alive at 2 yrs. For those ages &amp;gt;80, 23.7%, 0%, and 0% of pts with HR+HER2-, TN, and, HR-HER2+ disease were alive at 2 yrs. Median survival times were &amp;lt; 2 years for pts with TN regardless of age. Conclusions. In a unique, large prospective cohort of older pts with MBC, we examined detailed information on disease presentation, treatments, and outcomes, lending new information on patterns of care and experiences for older pts with MBC in a modern real-world experience. Limitations include a single center experience and small numbers of older pts with HER2+ and TN disease. Although the oldest pts with MBC had similar disease characteristics as younger pts in our dataset, survival outcomes were poor, particularly for those ages 80+. Therapeutic approaches, likely including improved supportive care, are urgently needed to optimize outcomes in the oldest pts with MBC. Table 1. Outcomes for older pts with MBC Citation Format: Melissa Hughes, Alyssa Patterson, Alexandra Newman, Amanda Higgins, Gregory Kirkner, Janet Files, Molly Skeffington, McKenna Moore, Sarah Strauss, Nicole Kuhnly, Lindsey Crowley, Sara Tolaney, Nancy Lin, Rachel Freedman. Patterns of presentation, treatment and survival for older patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC): results from a large prospective registry [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-10-07.

Abstract PO4-15-01: A multi-center prospective cohort study to evaluate the presence of circulating tumor cells using the Epic Sciences platform among women with metastatic breast cancer

Abstract Background: The presence of tumor cells (or their components) in the blood of women with a history of early breast cancer has the potential to herald the development of metastatic recurrence at its earliest stages. Such early detection could potentially lead to novel prevention strategies, but it requires a sensitive assay. Objective: To use the Epic Sciences platform to detect and enumerate CTCs in blood samples from patients with an established diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), prior to initiation of 1st line systemic therapy in the metastatic setting. Methods: We conducted a multi-center prospective cohort study to evaluate the presence of CTCs using the Epic Sciences platform among patients with a new diagnosis of MBC. Men or women age 18 to 85 were included, irrespective of breast cancer subtype. Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment had the potential to interfere with the detection of MBC in a liquid biopsy were excluded. A one-time blood draw was performed before patients received any local or systemic therapy in the metastatic setting. In addition, those with recurrent disease must have been off any systemic adjuvant therapy for ≥3 weeks prior to blood collection. Two 5 mL blood samples were obtained for CTC identification and enumeration. CTC identification was based on immunofluorescence analysis using Epic Sciences platform as previously described (Ueno et al 2017). The presence of CTCs was correlated with clinical and pathological features, which were abstracted from medical records and pathology reports. The association between the presence of CTCs and clinical/pathologic characteristics was tested using Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum tests for numerical variables. All analyses were performed using the R software package. Results: 100 patients were recruited between February 2021 and January 2023 at five academic oncology centres in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. 95 patients had evaluable blood for analysis and 5 did not due to blood age and/or insufficient blood volume. Six patients were excluded after providing a blood sample because tissue biopsy ultimately revealed a 2nd primary tumor (n=4) or benign tissue (n=2). Hence, 89 patients with a clinical diagnosis of MBC and with evaluable blood for CTC analyses were ultimately included in our cohort. The average age of patients was 61 years. Most patients (n=49, 55%) had a prior history of early breast cancer, 38 (43%) had de-novo metastatic disease and prior breast cancer history was unknown for 2 patients. 50 (66%) of patients had visceral metastatic disease. The most common sites of metastases included bone (62%), lung (30%), liver (29%) and lymph nodes (17%). 63 of 89 patients (71%) had detectable CTCs at baseline, prior to any local or systemic treatment in the metastatic setting. The median number of detectable CTCs per 5mL sample was 2 (IQR 8.5) and the range was 0 – 12,798. Twenty nine of 89 (33%) patients had 5 or more CTCs detected per 5ml blood. The proportion of patients with detectable CTCs was numerically highest (n=39/51, 76%) among patients with hormone receptor (HR)+/HER2-ve breast cancer, followed by HER2+ (n=16/22, 73%) and triple negative (n=8/13, 62%) disease. Associations between CTC detection with prior history of early breast cancer, sites of metastatic disease and disease burden will also be presented. Conclusions: Approximately 3 in 4 women with newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer have detectable CTCs using the Epic Sciences platform prior to initiation of first line systemic therapy. CTCs may be a promising tool for the monitoring of breast cancer recurrence and will be investigated in an ongoing Canadian prospective observational study that aims to elucidate biomarkers of late breast cancer recurrence. Citation Format: Katarzyna Jerzak, Pamela Goodwin, Marguerite Ennis, Christine Brezden-Masley, Nathaniel Bouganim, Mark Basik, Arushi Jain, Giuseppe Di Caro, Rick Wenstrup, Nadine Hartmann, Megan Slade, Ana Elisa Lohmann. A multi-center prospective cohort study to evaluate the presence of circulating tumor cells using the Epic Sciences platform among women with metastatic breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-15-01.

Abstract PO5-04-12: Comparison of chemotherapy efficacy in metastatic lobular vs. ductal breast cancer

Abstract Comparison of chemotherapy efficacy in metastatic lobular vs. ductal breast cancer Background: Invasive lobular carcinomas (ILC) are thought to be less chemo-sensitive than invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC), as reflected by lower rates of pathological complete response following neoadjuvant therapy. In the metastatic setting, evidence regarding chemotherapy (Cx) efficacy is limited. Methods: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data for consecutive patients (pts) with metastatic ILC (mILC) treated at a single institution between 2000 and 2023 was included. Pts with mILC were matched on a 1:2 ratio with a cohort of pts with metastatic IDC (mIDC) by age, era of diagnosis and initial metastatic burden. Primary outcome was efficacy of Cx in mILC vs. mIDC pts as measured by time to next treatment - TTNTc (months (m) between start date of first &amp; second Cx). Key secondary endpoints included differences in efficacy of endocrine therapy between the two groups (as measured by TTNT and outcomes in pts with endocrine resistance (EnR) as defined by ESMO consensus guideline) and overall survival (time from diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (BC) to death or last follow-up [OS]). Results: 376 pts were included, mILC (122) and mIDC (254) with median age 64y and 62y, respectively. A significantly higher proportion of mILC pts had hormone receptor positive/HER2 negative or lower proportion of triple negative disease (p&amp;lt; 0.0001). Compared to mIDC, mILC pts were more likely to have de novo disease (29% vs. 18%; p=0.02), lower grade (p&amp;lt; 0.0001), received endocrine therapy only (p=0.03) and were less likely to have visceral disease at diagnosis or any time after metastatic diagnosis (20% vs. 45% p&amp;lt; 0.0001, 35% vs. 51% &amp;lt; 0.0004, respectively). Median time to commencing chemotherapy from metastatic diagnosis was longer in mILC pts (5.8 v 2.0 m, p=0.03). There was no significant differences in TTNTc for patients with mILC and mIDC except for those with visceral disease at diagnosis (Table 1). There was no significant difference in TTNTc by histological subtype of mILC (p=0.46) or by choice of first line chemotherapy used (p=0.91). In the entire population, no significant OS difference observed in mILC and mIDC (Table 1). BC outcome was assessed in pts receiving endocrine therapy as first-line treatment (mILC 65, mIDC 102). There was no difference in TTNT (mILC 14.6m vs. mIDC 14.8m). There were no differences in incidence of EnR between the groups. OS was shorter in mILC pts with primary EnR. The presence of primary, secondary or no resistance within each histological group was significantly associated with OS (Table 1). Conclusion: Pts with mILC have a longer time to commencing chemotherapy, but efficacy of chemotherapy is similar to pts with mIDC; irrespective of lobular histologic subtype, first line chemotherapy regimen used and sites of disease, except for those mILC with visceral disease. There was no significant difference in OS between mILC and mIDC pts treated in this single centre study. Efficacy of endocrine treatment when given as first line treatment was similar in both groups with no significant difference when pts were evaluated by presence or absence of endocrine resistance, except for primary EnR, but pt numbers were small in this group. Our results demonstrate equivalent chemotherapy efficacy in pts with mILC as compared to mIDC.

Abstract PO4-05-01: Clinical outcomes of breast cancer and its relationship with access to health care in Brazil: prospective study in HER2 negative/hormone receptor positive metastatic disease - BREAST (BRazilian outcomE for metAStatic breasT cancer)

Abstract Background: Cancer survival is one of the key measures of the effectiveness of cancer services and captures whether people have access to effective treatment. The survival rate of breast cancer in low and middle-income countries is notably different from high-income countries; this disparity in survival reflects limited access to first-line systemic therapy for advanced and metastatic tumors. Recent studies have shown benefit of combining cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors (CDK 4/6) with endocrine therapies in hormone receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer. However, in Brazil, the population has limited access to these drugs, mainly in the public health service. The commercialization of CDK 4/6 inhibitors was only released in the national territory in 2018, but until nowadays it is not accessible for most patients. Objective: The aim of this project is to assess whether patients without private health insurance may experience worse outcomes compared to women with private insurance, primarily due to limited access to a specific class of medication during their treatments. The study seeks to gain insights into the clinical outcomes of patients with HR+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer based on their access to health insurance coverage within a real-world setting. Methods: Multicenter, prospective observational study, with patients divided into two groups: one with patients from the public health system and the second with patients treated at the private service. Whereas that the hazard ratio for the primary outcome in the private system compared to the public health system is like that observed in the PALOMA study (0.58), and that event rates after 18 months of follow-up are also similar (approximately 45% and 35%), then a total of 298 patients will provide the study power of 80%, significance level of 5%. This calculation considers a sample size ratio of 1 patient in the private health system for every 2 patients in the public health system. The inclusion criteria specify women with HR+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer who initiated first-line treatment from 2019. Patients will be followed for 24 months and stratified based on the use or non-use of CDK 4/6 inhibitors. The study was approved by the local ethics committee and registered with Clinical Trials (NCT05559528). Results: A total of 300 patients were evaluated, with 199 (66.3%) in the public health system and 101 (33.7%) in the private service. The mean age was 58 years, and 76.2% were postmenopausal. In terms of metastasis site, 84.7% had non-visceral disease, predominantly with bone metastasis (75.7%), which is an expected characteristic of this type of tumor. The use of CDK 4/6 inhibitors at any point in the treatment of metastatic disease was 7.0% in the public health system versus 90.1% in the private service. As a preliminary outcome, with a median time since the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer of 22.8 months, a mortality rate of 10% was identified in the public health system group compared to 5% in the private service group. Conclusions: The results of our study highlight the disparity in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer among patients in relation to access to healthcare. Patients dependent on the public health system experience higher mortality rates. These findings are crucial for supporting discussions on improving local policies regarding access to medications that have been proven to enhance the prognosis of these patients. Citation Format: Vanessa Sanvido, Lucíola Pontes, Rachel Machado, Marina Nicola, Jackeline Gomes, Letícia Barbante, Nanci Valeis, Alexandre Cavalcanti, Afonso Nazário. Clinical outcomes of breast cancer and its relationship with access to health care in Brazil: prospective study in HER2 negative/hormone receptor positive metastatic disease - BREAST (BRazilian outcomE for metAStatic breasT cancer) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-05-01.

Abstract PO1-11-03: Women with Metastatic Disease: Modeling a Clear and Well-Defined Announcement Pathway

Abstract Introduction: The announcement of the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer is a key step in enabling the patient to fully understand her disease and the various treatment options, and thus to be more involved in her management and follow-up. However, according to the « Croyances et réalités 2 » survey conducted in 2021 among 269 French patients with metastatic breast cancer, 38% of them felt that they "did not fully understand" the information given by their doctor during the announcement consultation. Objective: The objective of this work is to model an optimal pathway for the announcement of metastatic breast cancer based on precise guidelines and good coordination between the different actors, in order to ensure that all patients have the necessary information and support. Method: A scientific committee composed of 4 French oncologists from 4 different centers initiated a collaborative process to propose, after discussions, precise guidelines for the announcement of metastatic breast cancer. Results: A set of 13 concrete guidelines were suggested by the expert group (Table 1). The central aspect is to build a specialized and flexible support, adapted to the needs of the patient, without ever hiding the truth about her disease. The announcement process must be adapted to the patient's history (recurrent or immediately metastatic), but also to the organization and resources available in the health care institution. The experts recommend a model of announcement process in two stages, separated by a few days. First, the oncologist announces what the entry into metastatic disease represents, followed by a repeat of the announcement by a nurse trained in the specificities of metastatic breast cancer, in order to have the patient reformulate her understanding of the disease and treatment. In a second phase, a new consultation allows to present the next therapeutic steps and ensure a coordinated intervention of the different health care professionals involved: doctors, nurses, pharmacists and supportive care specialists as needed. The offer of supportive care should be flexible and it is recommended that questionnaires should be made available to the patient to help identify her precise needs. The experts recommend that this second consultation be conducted jointly by an oncologist and a nurse. Subsequently, the town physician and pharmacist must be contacted to ensure the relay in the accompaniment of the patients in partnership with the cancer care center, and thus to ensure a good sharing of information on the patient's follow-up. To help the establishment of this dynamic announcement model, the experts gave advice on implementation: training the professionals involved in the process through theoretical training and role-playing, increasing the amount of time spent on the announcement consultation, and setting up a library of online or physical information materials to share with the patient. Finally, it is recommended that the financing of this process be prepared at the institutional level before its effective implementation in order to ensure its sustainability. Conclusion: Organizing a consultation for the announcement of metastatic breast cancer is essential to optimize the experience of the announcement and support. It must be a structured, funded and coordinated process between different health professionals specially trained for this approach. Table 1: Summary of guidelines for a metastatic breast cancer notification pathway. Citation Format: Florence Dalenc, Séverine Guiu, Marie-Ange Mouret-Reynier, Nathalie Quenel-Tueux. Women with Metastatic Disease: Modeling a Clear and Well-Defined Announcement Pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-11-03.